Saturday, January 16, 2010

We all have busy lives, and most often should we decide to study for a new career, taking a course at the same time as holding down a job is our best way forward. Training tracks certified by Microsoft can fill that gap.

Additionally you might hope to talk in detail on the sort of careers that are available when you've finished studying, and what sort of person those jobs would appeal to. The majority of students like to get advice on what they might be good at.

Once you've decided on the career track for you, you must find an applicable training course customised to your ability level and skill set. The standard of teaching should be second to none.

Doing your bit in revolutionary new technology gives you the best job satisfaction ever. You personally play your part in creating a future for us all.

We're barely beginning to get a handle on what this change will mean to us. The way we correlate with the world as a whole will be profoundly affected by technology and the internet.

Let's not forget that the average salary in the IT industry across the UK is a lot higher than in other market sectors, so you will be in a good position to gain much more as a trained IT professional, than you could reasonably hope to achieve elsewhere.

The requirement for professionally qualified and skilled IT workers is a fact of life for a good while yet, thanks to the ongoing expansion in the marketplace and the huge deficiency that remains.

Consider the points below and pay great regard to them if you think the sales ploy of an 'Exam Guarantee' sounds great value:

You'll pay for it ultimately. One thing's for sure - it isn't free - they've just worked it into the package price.

It's everybody's ambition to qualify on the first attempt. Taking your exams progressively one at a time and paying as you go puts you in a much stronger position to qualify at the first attempt - you revise thoroughly and are aware of the costs involved.

Isn't it outrageous to have to pay the training company early for examinations? Go for the best offer at the time, instead of paying a premium - and do it locally - rather than in some remote place.

Many questionable training colleges secure huge amounts of money because they're charging for all the exam fees up-front and hoping you won't see them all through.

It's also worth noting that 'Exam Guarantees' often aren't worth the paper they're written on. Most companies won't be prepared to pay again for an exam until you're able to demonstrate an excellent mock pass rate.

Due to typical VUE and Prometric tests coming in at around 112 pounds in the UK, by far the best option is to pay for them as you take them. It's not in the student's interests to fork out hundreds or thousands of pounds for exams when enrolling on a course. Commitment, effort and practice with quality exam preparation systems are the factors that really get you through.

Considering the amount of options that are available, it's not really surprising that nearly all students get stuck choosing the job they will enjoy.

Flicking through a list of odd-sounding and meaningless job titles is no use whatsoever. The majority of us don't even know what our own family members do for a living - so we're in the dark as to the intricacies of any specific IT role.

Arriving at an informed conclusion will only come from a detailed examination covering many varying criteria:

* Personalities play a major part - what gets you 'up and running', and what tasks you really dislike.

* Is it your desire to achieve a specific aim - for instance, working from home as quickly as possible?

* Where is the salary on a scale of importance - is it very important, or does job satisfaction rate a lot higher on the scale of your priorities?

* Getting to grips with what the main Information technology roles and markets are - including what sets them apart.

* Taking a cold, hard look at the level of commitment, time and effort you'll make available.

For most people, considering each of these concepts requires a good chat with someone who can investigate each area with you. Not only the accreditations - but the commercial requirements also.

Most trainers typically provide a big box of books. This can be very boring and not really conducive to taking things in.

Many studies have proved that memory is aided when we use all our senses, and we put into practice what we've been studying.

Learning is now available via DVD-ROM discs, where your computer becomes the centre of your learning. Utilising the latest video technology, you will be able to see the instructor presenting exactly how to perform the required skill, followed by your chance to practice - in a virtual lab environment.

You really need to look at examples of the study materials provided by your chosen company. It's essential they incorporate video demo's and interactive elements such as practice lab's.

You should avoid purely online training. You want physical CD/DVD ROM course materials where available, enabling them to be used at your convenience - it's not wise to be held hostage to a quality and continuous internet connection.